Luxury nestled amidst water & paddy

This place acts like a balm to the soul. The land around is lush and verdant for as far as the eye can see. In the distance the Sigiriya rock towers majestically. A little away from the villa in which you stand, women tend the green paddy shoots pushing through the soil. The surfaces of the many interconnecting lakes that mark the landscape are ruffled by a gentle breeze as, in the silence, the cry of a bird echoes.

Far away from the rush and chaos of city life, Vil Uyana sits pretty in a 25-acre enclave, its 25 luxury villas offering unrivalled comfort and, paradoxically, a chance to reconnect with the simple life. Set in the rural, pristine hamlet of Rangirigama, this boutique hotel is meant to serve as the ideal romantic get-away. The 25 villas, include three water villas, six paddy field villas, 10 forest villas and 6 marsh pavilions. As the names suggest, each villa is nestled in that particular environment – creating a beautiful and unusual scheme. The water villas are particularly noteworthy.

Each exquisitely designed villa boasts a personalised butler service and personal plunge pool or swimming pool in addition to all the usual amenities. A luxurious bathtub, lounge area and spacious, light filled living area inspire relaxation, as does the view of sprawling fields, without a single office building standing between you and the horizon.

For Sunela Jayewardena, the young architect of this little oasis of calm, Vil Uyana is all about getting back in touch with nature. “In all my work, I try to let the natural environment in,” she says, “so my designs revolve around the existing environment and what we’ve done to enhance it.” Sunela and the Jetwing Hotels team (headed by Managing Director Hiran Cooray) have together built Vil Uyana using environmentally sensitive design materials she explains, adding that she sees Vil Uyana as a return to the true Sri Lankan style, replacing the colonial style.

“I see this as an extension of the pleasure gardens of Sigiriya,” she says, explaining that the difference is that Vil Uyana is a lot more natural, a lot less restrained by man. While the land that surrounds the villas might be a little wild, the villas themselves offer everything travellers have come to expect of a high-end establishment – from technology to 24 hour dining. “This is a marriage between the traditional and the modern,” explains Sunela.

Excellent service is emphasised at the hotel and made possible with a staff –guest ratio of 4 – 1. Stations scattered throughout the grounds ensure guests’ privacy but also keep their butlers within easy calling distance. Everything about Vil Uyana seems to invite simple relaxation, but those needing a little activity are far from being neglected.

Guests of the hotel will have plenty to keep them entertained. Trips to Sigirya rock, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura and Kandy are all possible as are excursions that cover bird trails, temples in the region, national parks, and Kala wewa among many others. The hotel’s ‘Island Spa’ is unusual in the sense that it offers both the usual spa treatments to guests as well as ayurveda-based treatments, with in-house practitioners on hand to advise guests.

Interestingly, Vil Uyana is the first hotel in the island to boast a manmade wetland system, complete with lakes and reed beds. In the future, the hotel hopes to offer guests the choice of boating on these large interconnected water bodies. Forest groves are already in the process of being regenerated and the paddy fields will be ready for harvesting soon. Guests who wish to participate will even be encouraged to work beside the villager in the fields, with the idea of offering them a truly authentic Sri Lankan experience.

Vil Uyana is a part of Sri Lanka’s rejuvenation, explains Hiran Cooray, the Managing Director of Jetwing Hotels. Recovering from a phase that emphasised economical board and lodging, the Sri Lankan tourist industry is now trying to break into more profitable, exclusive markets. A high-end boutique hotel, Vil Uyana aims to cater to the “discerning traveller” and is priced accordingly.

In the end, Vil Uyana seems to blend easily into the surrounding environs in more ways than one. Determined not to be the ‘invaders,’ Mr. Cooray explains, the management of Vil Uyana has set up a programme that offers youth in the area coaching in English, as well as specialised training in the various fields of hotel management. As a result, around 50% of the staff at Vil Uyana are locally recruited. Bringing with them, it is hoped, a taste of true Sri Lankan hospitality.